Sediment Control at Water Intake Structures in a River

The intake towers of Buyeo W.T.P. in Keum river have being suffered from the sedimentation problems since the beginning of the operation. Impellers of the intake pumps have to the frequently changed due to the serious surface erosion. Thousands tons of sands are entrapped in the intake towers and equalization chambers of W.T.P. every year. Site surveying and numerical analysis were carried out to suggest an appropriate solution by understanding the general sedimentation regime of Keum river and causes of the sedimentation in the intake towers. Origin of the sediment could be found by the desk and site inspections. The validity of the used numerical models was examined by comparisons between the calculated bydraulic values and the measured ones during the specific periods. The design flow rate for the prediction of the future sedimentation regime of the rever was studied. The efficiency of the sediment control measures was also examined with the verified numerical models. Finally, it was found that the best solution could be a combination of three sediment control measures; increase the clearance between river bed and inlet, construct jetties at 2 kilometers upstream from the intake towers, and put vanes at the right side of the intake towers.